Goal Setting

Today I am sitting mulling over the Goals I set at the beginning of this year. I am so relieved that I no longer have to worry about New Years Resolutions - as by now statistically 97% of us have given up on anything set at the beginning of this year anyway. Well why is this?

Well if you decided to - 'Lose Weight' - one of our most popular resolutions this January - exactly how much, by when, doing what? How specific is it?How will you know when you've achieved this?

The answer of course is to set goals. A good goal should be specific, achievable, realistic, ecological, timed, stated in the present tense and must have a good evidence procedure. For example:

"It is the last day of June 2009 and I weigh just 10 stone and easily wear a size 10. I look fantastic in my new jogging pants and am happily running for 40 mins each morning."

Of course you must feel this is easily achievable for you, it's specific because you put the weight and a clothing size, so you know exactly when you have got there. By putting words like 'just' and 'fantastic' and 'new' you are making it sound more appealing. Your clear evidence is the regular running, and of course the new clothes. Great stuff!!

Back to my goals - I set one to re-read all my training course material by the 7th of February this year. I have started and am well on course. I feel focuses and ready for the feeling of success!!

More on how to set great goals coming soon...